High-speed, low-power input buffer for integrated circuit devices

ABSTRACT

A high-speed, low-power input buffer for an integrated circuit device in which the input voltage (VIN) is coupled to both a pull-up and a pull-down transistor. In accordance with a specific embodiment, the input buffer utilizes a reference voltage input (VREF) during a calibration phase of operation but not when in an active operational mode. A maximum level of through current is supplied when VIN=VREF with lower levels of through current at all other VIN voltages. In an integrated circuit device incorporating an input buffer as disclosed, two (or more) input buffers may be utilized per device input pin.

RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority from, and is a continuation of,U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/092,506 filed on Mar. 29, 2005. Thedisclosure of the foregoing United States Patent Application isspecifically incorporated herein by this reference in its entirety andassigned to ProMOS Technologies PTE.LTD., Singapore, assignee of thepresent invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to the field of integratedcircuit (IC) devices. More particularly, the present invention relatesto a high-speed, low-power input buffer for integrated circuit devicesincluding memories such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM),synchronous DRAM, synchronous static random access memory (SRAM).

Signaling between integrated circuits is typically done using one ofseveral signaling protocols. Most of these protocols specify a referencevoltage (VREF). The input (VIN) is a valid logic level “high” when it isabove the level of VREF by a specified voltage (Vih) and the input is avalid logic level “low” when it is below the level of VREF by aspecified voltage (Vil). The Stub Series-Terminated Logic (SSTL)interface standard intended for high-speed memory interface applicationsis an example of just such a protocol and it would be highlyadvantageous to provide an input buffer which simultaneously exhibitshigher speed operation while requiring reduced power levels as comparedto conventional circuit implementations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed herein is a high-speed, low-power input buffer for integratedcircuit devices in which the input voltage (VIN) is coupled to both apull-up and a pull-down device. An input buffer in accordance with thepresent invention utilizes a reference voltage input (VREF) during acalibration phase of operation but not when in an active operationalmode. The input buffer of the present invention further provides amaximum level of through current when VIN=VREF and lower levels ofthrough current at all other VIN voltages. In an integrated circuitdevice incorporating an input buffer as disclosed, two (or more) inputbuffers may be utilized per device input pin.

Particularly disclosed herein is an integrated circuit device includingat least one input buffer which comprises a pull-up device operativelycoupled to a first voltage node, a pull-down device operatively coupledbetween the pull-up device and a second voltage node, wherein thepull-up and pull-down devices are coupled to receive a input voltagesignal and an output node intermediate the pull-up and pull-downdevices.

Further disclosed herein is an integrated circuit input buffer whichcomprises an input terminal for receiving an input voltage signal, anoutput terminal for providing an output voltage signal in response tothe input voltage signal when the input buffer is in an operationalphase thereof and a reference voltage terminal for providing a referencevoltage signal to the input buffer while it is in an alternativecalibration phase of operation.

Also disclosed herein is a method for operating an input buffer for anintegrated circuit device having input and reference voltage inputswherein the method comprises providing a first level of through currentto an output node of the input buffer when a first voltage on the inputvoltage input is substantially equal to a second voltage on thereference voltage input and providing a second lesser level of throughcurrent to the output node when the first voltage is not substantiallyequal to the second voltage.

Still further disclosed herein is an integrated circuit device whichcomprises at least two input buffers coupled to at least one input pinof the integrated circuit device. In a particular embodiment, the inputbuffers are alternatively in operational and calibration phases ofoperation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The aforementioned and other features and objects of the presentinvention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent andthe invention itself will be best understood by reference to thefollowing description of a preferred embodiment taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a conventional input buffer in theform of a differential amplifier having VREF as one input and VIN asanother;

FIG. 2 is a representative schematic illustration of a high-speed,low-power input buffer in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention utilizing a number of calibration signals in conjunction withVREF and VIN input signals;

FIG. 3 is a representative waveform diagram illustrating the relativetiming of the calibration signals depicted in the preceding figure;

FIG. 4 is a representative functional block diagram of a possibleimplementation of a system for an integrated circuit device inaccordance with the present invention in which two high-speed, low-powerinput buffers are employed enabling one to be calibrated while the otheris utilized; and

FIG. 5 is a representative waveform diagram illustrating the relativetiming of the input and output gating signals depicted in the precedingfigure.

DESCRIPTION OF A REPRESENTATIVE EMBODIMENT

With reference now to FIG. 1, a schematic illustration of a conventionalinput buffer 100 is shown in the form of a differential amplifier havingthe signal VIN as one input on line 102 and VREF as another on line 104.The conventional input buffer 100 provides an output signal (OUT) online 106 in response as shown.

The conventional input buffer 100 comprises a P-channel transistor 108connected in series with an N-channel transistor 110 coupled between asupply voltage (VCC) connected to the source of transistor 108 and anode VTAIL at the source of transistor 110. The common connected drainterminals of transistors 108 and 110 (node VPG) are connected to thegate of transistor 108 while the gate of transistor 110 is connected toreceive the VREF signal on line 104.

Similarly, a P-channel transistor 112 is also connected in series withan N-channel transistor 114 coupled between VCC connected to the sourceof transistor 112 and the node VTAIL at the source of transistor 114.The common connected drain terminals of transistors 112 and 114 providethe signal OUTB (output bar). The gate of transistor 112 is connected tonode VPG while the gate of transistor 110 is connected to receive theVIN signal on line 102. The node VTAIL is connected to a current source116 coupled to circuit ground (VSS) while the OUTB signal is provided tothe input of an inverter 118 to furnish the output signal OUT.

Functionally, as the VIN signal rises above the level of VREF, thesignal OUTB goes “low” causing the output signal OUT to go “high”. AsVIN transitions below the level of VREF, the signal OUTB goes “high”causing the signal OUT to go “low”. The amount of current drawn by theconventional input buffer 100 is limited by the current source 116 andincreasing the amount of current that it can provide can serve toincrease the speed of the conventional input buffer 100.

With reference additionally now to FIG. 2, a representative schematicillustration of a high-speed, low-power input buffer 200 in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention is shown. The input buffer200 receives a VIN signal on line 202 and a VREF signal on line 204 toultimately provide an output signal OUT on line 206. A calibrationsignal (CAL) is provided on line 208 coupled to the gate terminal ofN-channel transistor 218 which has one terminal coupled to receive theVREF signal on line 204 and the other terminal coupled to node VINP. Inlike manner, a complementary calibration signal (CALB) is provided online 210 coupled to the gate terminal of N-channel transistor 220 whichhas one terminal coupled to receive the VIN signal on line 202 and theother terminal also coupled to node VINP.

A pair of capacitors 222 and 224 respectively couple the node VINP to aterminal of N-channel transistor 226 at node VOSP and N-channeltransistor 228 at node VOSN. The gates of transistors 226 and 228receive CALP and CALN calibration signals on lines 212 and 216respectively while their remaining terminals are coupled to node OUTB. AP-channel transistor has its source terminal coupled to VCC and itsdrain coupled to node OUTB with its gate coupled to node VOSP.

A corresponding N-channel transistor 232 has its drain terminal coupledto node OUTB and its source terminal coupled to circuit ground throughseries coupled N-channel transistor 234. The gate terminal of transistor232 is coupled to node VOSN while the gate terminal of transistor 234receives a CALPB signal on line 214. The CALP signal on line 212 is alsocoupled to the gate terminal of N-channel transistor 236 which has oneterminal coupled to node OUTB and the other terminal coupled throughresistor 240 to circuit ground. The node OUTB is coupled through aninverter 238 to provide the output signal OUT on line 206. Asdistinguished from the conventional input buffer 100 (FIG. 1), thehigh-speed, low power input buffer 200 of the present invention isimplemented in conjunction with a number of calibration signals.

With reference additionally now to FIG. 3, during a calibration phase ofoperation, the CAL signal on line 208 first goes “high” while thecomplementary CALB signal on line 210 goes “low”. Thereafter, the CALPsignal on line 212 goes “high” and the complementary CALPB signal online 214 goes “low”. The node OUTB is pulled “low” by resistor 240through transistor 236 until the current through transistor 230 equalsthe current through resistor 240. The value of resistor 240 may beadvantageously chosen to cause transistor 230 to pull an optimum amountof current. It should be noted that the function of resistor 240 mayalso be implemented through other techniques providing a suitable sourceof current such as, for example, the substitution of a relatively longchannel length, narrow width transistor for transistor 236 therebyobviating the need for resistor 240.

Since, at this time, transistor 226 is “on”, the voltage on node VOSP isequal to the voltage at node OUTB, where VOSP is the voltage at the gateof transistor 230. The voltage difference between that on node VOSP andVCC is the gate—to—source voltage (V_(GS)) of transistor 230 and will bea function of temperature and the transistor 230 process variations.

The CALP signal on line 212 is then brought “low”, and the CALPB andCALN signals, on lines 214 and 216 respectively, taken “high”. Thecurrent through transistor 230 is determined primarily by the V_(GS) oftransistor 230, so the voltage on node OUTB will rise until the currentthrough transistor 232 is equal to the current through transistor 230.The signal CALN on line 216 is then brought “low”. At this time, thevoltage at node VOSP and VOSN are the gate voltages of transistors 230and 232 respectively. The amount of current through transistor 232 ismatched to the amount of current through transistor 230. The CAL signalon line 208 is then taken “low” and the CALB signal on line 210 is taken“high” taking the voltage on node VINP to the level of VIN.

As VIN moves up from the level of VREF, the current through transistor230 will decrease while the current through transistor 232 willincrease. Correspondingly, as the level of VIN moves down from the levelof VREF, the current through transistor 230 will increase while thecurrent through transistor 232 will decrease.

In the representative embodiment of the high-speed, low-power inputbuffer 200 illustrated, the V_(GS) of both transistors 230 and 232 varyin direct response to VIN, resulting in large differential current beingsupplied to node OUTB. In contrast, the V_(GS) of transistor 114 in theconventional input buffer 100 (FIG. 1) also varies with VIN but thevariation of the V_(GS) is offset by the change in the voltage on nodeVTAIL. The V_(GS) of transistor 112 varies only as a result of thevariation of the voltage on node VTAIL causing the V_(GS) of transistor110 to change and thereby causing the voltage on node VPG to change.

Further, the AC pull-up or pull-down current of the conventional inputbuffer 100 is limited to approximately the current source 116 set levelof current while the high-speed, low-power input buffer 200 of thepresent invention is not so limited. In fact, the maximum throughcurrent of the input buffer 200 occurs when VIN is equal to VREF. As thelevel of VIN increases, transistor 230 shuts “off” and transistor 232turns “on”. The drive current of transistor 232 is determined primarilyby the V_(GS) of transistor 232 so the node OUTB will be driven “low”until it is nearly equal to VSS. As the level of VIN decreases,transistor 232 shuts “off” and transistor 230 turns “on”. The drivecurrent of transistor 230 is also determined mainly by the V_(GS) oftransistor 230, so the node OUTB will be driven “high” until it isnearly equal to the level of VCC.

As shown particularly in FIG. 3, during an operational phase (from timet₁ to t₂), the signal CAL is at a logic level “low” and thecomplementary CALB signal is at a logic level “high” while the CALP andCALN signals are at a logic level “low” and the CALPB signal is at alogic level “high”. As can further be determined, the input buffer 200is not “available” 100% of the time (i.e. from times t₀ to t₁ and timest₂ to t₃), which poses a functional limitation if the specification foran integrated circuit employing the same does not provide for acalibration time period or implement a design employing two inputbuffers 200 for each input. In the latter instance, one of the two inputbuffers 200 may be calibrated while the other is being used. Andalthough superficially appearing to be somewhat of a penalty in terms ofon-chip die area required, in reality input buffers are physically verysmall in comparison to integrated circuit bonding pads and associatedelectro static discharge (ESD) circuits. Consequently, providing twoinput buffers 200 per integrated circuit device pad (or pin) is notactually much of a penalty.

With reference additionally now to FIG. 4, a representative functionalblock diagram of a possible implementation of a system 400 in accordancewith the present invention is shown in which two high-speed, low-powerinput buffers 200A and 200B are employed enabling one to be calibratedwhile the other is utilized. As shown, a common input line (IN) issupplied to the input buffers 200A and 200B through respectivecomplementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) transmission (or “pass”)gates 402 _(INA) and 402 _(INB) on lines INA and INB. Outputs from theinput buffers 200A and 200B on lines OUTA and OUTB are then supplied toa common output line (OUT) through corresponding CMOS transmission gates402 _(OUTA) and 402 _(OUTB).

As illustrated, and as will be more fully described hereinafter, thetransmission gates 402 _(INA) and 402 _(INB) receive, respectively, thecomplementary signals INAP/INAN and INBP/INBN. Similarly, thetransmission gates 402 _(OUTA) and 402 _(OUTB) receive, respectively,the complementary signals OUTAP/OUTAN and OUTBP/OUTBN.

In operation, input buffer 200A may be calibrated while buffer 200B isbeing used. Both input buffers 200A and 200B may be used in parallel inthose instances where nodes OUTA and OUTB are outputting the same data.This may be assured by turning the transmission gate 402 _(INA) “on”before turning on the transmission gate 402 _(OUTA.)

With reference additionally now to FIG. 5, a representative waveformdiagram is presented illustrating the relative timing of the input andoutput gating signals depicted in the preceding figure. As shown, thetiming of the gating signals to the various pass gates 402 is such thatthe signals INAP and INAN are asserted after OUTAP and OUTAN have beenasserted, and the former signals are de-asserted before the lattersignals have themselves been de-asserted. In like manner, the signalsINBP and INBN are asserted after OUTBP and OUTBN have been asserted, andthe former signals are then de-asserted before the latter signals havethemselves been de-asserted.

The frequency with which it is necessary to calibrate an input buffer200 in accordance with the present invention is a function of theleakage from nodes VOSP and VOSN (FIG. 2) and the capacitance ofcapacitors 222 and 224. Practically, it is difficult to attempt acalibration at as high a frequency as the input buffer 200 can operatewhen not in the calibration mode. Therefore, a lower frequency isgenerally desirable for initiation of a calibration cycle. When used inconjunction with dynamic random access memory (DRAM) devices, theself-refresh mode signal may be utilized as an example. For a clockeddevice, such as synchronous DRAM (SDRAM) or synchronous static randomaccess memory (SRAM), for example, the output of a clock counter mayalso be used.

It should be noted that the order of calibration of transistors 230 and232 (FIG. 2; with the former being calibrated first, followed by thelatter) could be reversed with only minor changes needed to theembodiment of the input buffer 200 described and illustrated. Further,the nodes VOSN and VOSP may alternatively be coupled below VSS or aboveVCC respectively. It is also recommended that the body voltage oftransistors 226 and 228 be chosen to preclude forward biasing of thebody to their source/drain junctions.

While there have been described above the principles of the presentinvention in conjunction with specific circuitry and device types, it isto be clearly understood that the foregoing description is made only byway of example and not as a limitation to the scope of the invention.Particularly, it is recognized that the teachings of the foregoingdisclosure will suggest other modifications to those persons skilled inthe relevant art. Such modifications may involve other features whichare already known per se and which may be used instead of or in additionto features already described herein. Although claims have beenformulated in this application to particular combinations of features,it should be understood that the scope of the disclosure herein alsoincludes any novel feature or any novel combination of featuresdisclosed either explicitly or implicitly or any generalization ormodification thereof which would be apparent to persons skilled in therelevant art, whether or not such relates to the same invention aspresently claimed in any claim and whether or not it mitigates any orall of the same technical problems as confronted by the presentinvention. The applicants hereby reserve the right to formulate newclaims to such features and/or combinations of such features during theprosecution of the present application or of any further applicationderived therefrom.

As used herein, the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any othervariation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, suchthat a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises arecitation of certain elements does not necessarily include only thoseelements but may include other elements not expressly recited orinherent to such process, method, article or apparatus. None of thedescription in the present application should be read as implying thatany particular element, step, or function is an essential element whichmust be included in the claim scope and THE SCOPE OF THE PATENTEDSUBJECT MATTER IS DEFINED ONLY BY THE CLAIMS AS ALLOWED. Moreover, noneof the appended claims are intended to invoke paragraph six of 35 U.S.C.Sect. 112 unless the exact phrase “means for” is employed and isfollowed by a participle.

1. An integrated circuit input buffer comprising: an input terminal;means for coupling an input voltage signal to said input terminal whenthe input buffer is in an operational phase; and means for coupling areference voltage signal to said input terminal when the input buffer isin an alternative calibration phase of operation.
 2. The integratedcircuit input buffer of claim 1 wherein said reference voltage signal isprovided in response to a first calibration signal.
 3. The integratedcircuit input buffer of claim 1 wherein said input voltage signal isprovided in response to a second complementary calibration signal.
 4. Amethod for operating an input buffer for an integrated circuit devicehaving input and reference voltage inputs thereto, said methodcomprising; said input buffer allowing a first level of through currentthrough pull-up and pull-down devices of the input buffer when a firstvoltage on said input voltage input is substantially equal to a secondvoltage on said reference voltage input; and said input buffer allowinga second lesser level of through current through the pull-up andpull-down devices of the input buffer when said first voltage on saidinput voltage input is not substantially equal to said reference voltageinput.
 5. An integrated circuit device comprising: at least two inputbuffers coupled to an input pin of said integrated circuit device,wherein said at least two input buffers are alternatively in operationaland calibration phases of operation, and receive a first signal in theoperational phase and receive a second signal in the calibration phase.